Technology

Applications Accepted for Fuel Cell R&D Grants

The Department of Energy is now accepting grant applications - for a total of up to $74 million dollars - to support the research and development of clean, reli...

Federal News Radio Custom Media@WTOPWFEDcustom

January 9, 2011 2:22 pm

< a min read

The Department of Energy is now accepting grant applications – for a total of up to $74 million dollars – to support the research and development of clean, reliable fuel cells.

The solicitations include up to $65 million over three years to fund continued research and development on fuel cell components with the goal of reducing costs, improving their durability and increasing the efficiency of fuel cell systems.

Fuel cells use the energy of hydrogen or other fuels to cleanly and efficiently produce electricity or heat with very few – and inert – byproducts. They can produce power in large stationary systems such as buildings or for vehicles such as commercial forklifts, buses and automobiles.

Officials say the awards will help support U.S. leadership in the emerging global fuel cell market, while limiting greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels.